Laser safety in dental practice in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Laser technology has become a mainstay of dental practice, ranging from scanning and diagnostics to antibacterial photonics, photobiomodulation and surgical dental, osseous and soft tissue ablation. The phenomenon of incident photonic energy interaction with target oral and dental tissue may be seen as variable, according to light wavelength choice and its match with tissue absorbance, but fundamentally providing outcomes as a product of the beam power and photon concentration. Inasmuch as the clinician may control the degree of laser-tissue interaction, there exists a risk of unwanted or unplanned outcome from poorly managed laser power levels. Possibly of greater risk is the danger of exposure of unprotected non-target tissue, skin and eyes to laser photonic energy, applicable to the patient and attending dental staff. Awareness of such risks, relative to a given laser power output, prompts adherence to regulation and guidelines as to use. Overriding regulations covering laser use are issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission and these are devolved through regional and national adoption for implementation. The scope of this paper is to guide the clinician and supporting staff to understand the reasons for regulation and guidelines and to detail the nature and scope of compliance in the United Kingdom when using laser technology.